Novo Nordisk’s global POSEIDON study reveals persistent cardiovascular inflammation in patients with ASCVD, CKD, and heart failure, highlighting residual risk despite standard therapies and reinforcing the need for targeted anti-inflammatory approaches.
Written By: Sanika Komawar, BDS
Reviewed By: Pharmacally Editorial Team
Novo Nordisk presented new findings from the POSEIDON real-world evidence study at the 94th European Atherosclerosis Society Congress in Athens, showing that cardiovascular inflammation remains highly prevalent among patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), chronic kidney disease (CKD), and heart failure despite standard-of-care treatment.
The analysis found that approximately 40% of patients with ASCVD and CKD had ongoing inflammatory activity, defined by high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels of at least 2 mg/L. A parallel POSEIDON analysis published in the European Journal of Heart Failure reported similar inflammatory burden across patients with preserved, mildly reduced, and reduced ejection fraction heart failure.
Residual Risk
The findings show that cardiovascular risk driven by inflammation persists despite control of cholesterol, blood pressure, and glycemia. Elevated hsCRP has consistently been associated with increased risks of myocardial infarction, stroke, cardiovascular death, and progression of kidney disease.
Cardiovascular inflammation plays a central role in the development and progression of ASCVD and heart failure. Inflammatory signaling is particularly common among patients with obesity, CKD, and metabolic disorders, reinforcing its role as a major contributor to residual cardiovascular risk.
Study Population
POSEIDON enrolled 18,904 patients across 18 countries between 2023 and 2025. The study included 13,475 patients with ASCVD, including 5,757 with coexisting CKD, alongside 11,809 patients with heart failure spanning preserved, mildly reduced, and reduced ejection fraction disease.
Researchers excluded patients with recent infections, hospitalizations, or unplanned medical visits to ensure hsCRP reflected chronic cardiovascular inflammation rather than acute illness.
Expert Opinion
Filip Knop, senior vice president and chief medical officer at Novo Nordisk, said the findings underscore cardiovascular inflammation as a major driver of persistent risk despite current therapies. He added that the company continues to advance research into potential first-in-class anti-inflammatory therapies targeting this unmet need.
Professor Carolyn S.P. Lam of the National Heart Centre Singapore said the consistent inflammatory signals observed across diverse cardiovascular populations support identifying patients who may benefit from targeted anti-inflammatory therapies.
Guideline Impact
The growing clinical focus on inflammation aligns with updated guidance from the European Society of Cardiology, American Heart Association, and American College of Cardiology, which now recognize hsCRP as a risk-modifying biomarker in cardiovascular prevention strategies.
The results further strengthen industry and clinical interest in anti-inflammatory approaches as a potential addition to conventional cardiovascular risk reduction.
Reference
About the Writer
Sanika Santosh Komawar (LinkedIn) is a healthcare writer and third-year BDS student at KBH Dental College under Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, with a strong interest in dentistry, healthcare communication, and continuous learning. She has participated in various conference poster presentations and has developed effective communication and leadership skills through her academic and extracurricular activities.